Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, the influenza viruses. In people, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
Monitoring of human swine influenza virus in connection with a recent Norway report – The Hong Kong’s Public Health Laboratory Service Branch (PHLSB) had detected one human swine influenza (HSI) virus which had the same mutation as the one detected in Norway recently.
Ultrasound enhances noninvasive Down syndrome tests – The addition of a “genetic sonogram” maximizes the accuracy of non-invasive testing for Down syndrome, revealed by US researchers.
Measuring and modeling blood flow in malaria — Fluid Dynamics Conference in Minneapolis highlights – When people have malaria, they are infected with Plasmodium parasites, which enter the body from the saliva of a mosquito, infect cells in the liver, and then spread to red blood cells.
Exposures to metals and diesel emissions in air linked to respiratory symptoms in children – Exposure shortly after birth to ambient metals from residential heating oil combustion and particles from diesel emissions are associated with respiratory symptoms in young inner city children.
Safety of pandemic vaccines — Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 16. – WHO estimates that around 80 million doses of pandemic vaccine have been distributed and around 65 million people have been vaccinated. National immunization campaigns began in Australia and the People’s Republic of China in late September.
Asthma a significant risk factor for complications in children with H1N1 – Asthma is a significant risk factor for severe disease in children with pandemic H1N1 compared with the seasonal flu, revealed by Canadian researchers.
Common pain relief medication may encourage cancer growth – Opiate-based painkillers like morphine can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells, revealed by researchers.
La Jolla Institute finds previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity – Previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 “swine” flu, revealed by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, US.
HIV vaccine failure probably caused by virus used, says new research – The recent failure of an HIV vaccine was probably caused by the immune system reacting to the virus ‘shell’ used to transmit the therapy around the body, revealed by researchers.
With 29 fresh cases being reported Sunday, reaching the total number of those suffering from dengue fever to 812 in New Delhi, India. – Dengue fever has affected more than 800 people in Delhi – capital of India. Health officials confirmed 29 new cases of dengue infection reaching to 812 cases of debgue fever in this season.
The number of estimated new swine flu cases has fallen significantly in UK. – The number of estimated new swine flu cases has fallen significantly in the past week, the Health Protection Agency has announced. The consultation rate for flu-like illness in England from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) scheme decreased to 36.0 per 100,000 in week 45 compared to 37.7 in week 44.
FDA Expands Approved Use of H1N1 Vaccines to Include Infants and Children – US FDA has approved the use of the CSL Limited’s 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to include children ages 6 months and older. This vaccine was previously approved only for use in adults, ages 18 years and older.
